Identifying Birds on the Farm - eOrganic
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1/15/2019
Welcome to the webinar!
• The webinar will start the top of the hour.
• To type in a question, use the q and a box on your control panel. We’ll read the
questions aloud after the presentation for 30 minutes.
• A recording will be available in our archive (see below) and on the eOrganic
YouTube channel within 1-2 weeks
• Find more upcoming and archived webinars at
https://articles.extension.org/pages/25242
• Find all eOrganic resources at http://www.extension.org/organic_production
Identifying Birds
on the Farm
Olivia Smith
School of Biological
Sciences, Washington State
University, Pullman, WA
1
1/15/2019
About the Presenter
• BS in Biology from Siena Heights
University
• MS Fisheries and Wildlife from The
Ohio State University
• PhD candidate at Washington State
University
Overview
• Mostly bird identification
• 43 most common species
• Some management tips
throughout
• 10 min Q&A at end
www.allaboutbirds.org
2
1/15/2019
Tips for Identifying Birds
• Range and time of year
• “Four Keys to ID” from
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Size and shape
• Beak, wing, tail shape
• Color pattern
• Color, streaking, spotting
• Behavior
• Flight pattern, vertical strata,
tail bobs, gregarious or solitary
• Habitat
• Song and calls
From www.allaboutbirds.org modified from Merlin Bird ID app
Overview on Managing Birds
• Remember: don’t ever harm native
birds or their nests without a pest
permit
• Invasive species can be controlled
with lethal means
• Attract by providing food, a safe
nesting space, and suitable habitat
www.allaboutbirds.org
3
1/15/2019
Overview on Managing Birds
• Most deterrence mechanisms
aren’t well studied but common
ones include
• Netting off trees or structures
• Noise makers or laser beams
• Mylar/reflective tape
• Habitat removal near crops
• Gas guns/band-bangers
• Use predator decoys or promote
raptors
• Lethal control for invasives
• Use more than one!
Hummingbirds
4
1/15/2019
Anna’s Hummingbird
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Anna’s Hummingbird
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female
5
1/15/2019
Anna’s Hummingbird
Greenish body
Greenish body
Iridescent red Throat spotting
Gray below
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female
Tail past wings
Anna’s Hummingbird
• Metallic, scratchy song
• zrrr jika jika jika jika jika
• Scrrrr zveeee, street street
www.allaboutbirds.org
Sound file: Charles A. Sutherland/Macaulay Library at the Cornell
Lab of Ornithology (ML6122)
6
1/15/2019
Rufous Hummingbird
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Rufous Hummingbird
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female
7
1/15/2019
Rufous Hummingbird
Greenish body
Rufous body
Red throat Throat spotting
Rufous Rusty flanks
in tail
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female
Tail past wings
Rufous Hummingbird
• Three syllable phrases in call
• Tzzew tzupity tzupity tzup
• High, buzzy trill of wings
www.allaboutbirds.org
www.allaboutbirds.org
Sound file: Geoffrey A. Keller/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab
of Ornithology (ML50107)
8
1/15/2019
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
www.allaboutbirds.org
Eastern US’s only breeding hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female
9
1/15/2019
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Light throat
spotting
Dusky body
White Buffy flanks
belly
Red throat and
breast
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female
Attracting hummingbirds
• Estimated to pollinate 3-5% of
crops globally
• Plant flowers interspersed in
crop fields
• Provide feeders
• ¼ cup table sugar to 1 cup water
101/15/2019
Chickadees and
Warblers
www.allaboutbirds.org
Black-capped Chickadee
www.allaboutbirds.org
111/15/2019
Black-capped Chickadee
Black cap
White cheeks
Small bill
Black throat
Buffy flanks
www.allaboutbirds.org
Carolina Chickadee
www.allaboutbirds.org
121/15/2019
Carolina Chickadee
Black cap
White cheeks
Small bill
Black throat
Buffy flanks
www.allaboutbirds.org
Black-capped vs. Carolina Chickadee
131/15/2019
Black-capped vs. Carolina Chickadee
• Black-capped Chickadee
• Song pure 2 or 3 note whistled fee-bee
• Call chickadee-dee-dee
• Gargled alarm call Sound file: Jay W. McGowan/Macaulay Library
• Carolina Chickadee
at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML202239)
• Song four-note whistle fee-bee-fee-bee
• Notes 1 and 3 higher
• Call chickadee-dee-dee faster than Black-capped
• Gargled alarm call
Sound file: Wilbur L. Hershberger/Macaulay
Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
(ML94222)
Chickadees
• Cavity nesters
• Leave snags or provide nest boxes
• Arboreal – plant crops near trees
• Insectivores
• Can help control caterpillars
• Will eat fruits when available
141/15/2019
Common Yellowthroat
www.allaboutbirds.org
Common Yellowthroat
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female
151/15/2019
Common Yellowthroat Brownish
above
Black mask
Yellow
Long tail with throat and
yellow Long bill breast
underneath
Yellow throat
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female
Fruit eaters
www.allaboutbirds.org
161/15/2019
Bullock’s Oriole
www.allaboutbirds.org
Bullock’s Oriole
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female
171/15/2019
Bullock’s Oriole
Yellow-orange Yellow-orange
Black eye head + throat
stripe tail
Sharp,
pointed bill
White belly
Orange body White wingbar
Large, white
wing patch
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female
Baltimore Oriole
www.allaboutbirds.org
181/15/2019
Baltimore Oriole
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female
Baltimore Oriole Brownish-
yellow back
Black head,
and head
neck, and back
Two white
wingbars
Sturdy bill
Sturdy bill
Orange
underparts Brownish-
yellow
www.allaboutbirds.org underneath www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female
191/15/2019
Orioles
• Pendulum nests
• Eat fruits, nectar, and insects
• Use “gaping” method to eat fruit, causing
holes
• Place out orange slices, half water/half grape
jelly mixture in shallow dish, or an oriole
nectar feeder
Cedar Waxwing
www.allaboutbirds.org
www.allaboutbirds.org
201/15/2019
Cedar Waxwing
Cute crest
Black
mask
Red wing www.allaboutbirds.org
www.allaboutbirds.org tips colored
with wax!
Yellow
tail tip
American Robin
211/15/2019
American Robin
Adult Juvenile
American Robin
Gray-black
upperparts
Stripes from Breast spots
bill to throat
Orange breast
Orange sides
Adult Juvenile
221/15/2019
Swallows
www.allaboutbirds.org
Mud nest
swallows
231/15/2019
Barn Swallow
www.allaboutbirds.org
www.allaboutbirds.org
Barn Swallow
www.allaboutbirds.org
www.allaboutbirds.org
241/15/2019
Barn Swallow
Open cup
Blueish cap
Tail streamers Rufous throat Grasses
www.allaboutbirds.org
and mud
www.allaboutbirds.org
Cliff Swallow
www.allaboutbirds.org
251/15/2019
Cliff Swallow
www.allaboutbirds.org
Cliff Swallow
Closed
White top with
forehead entrance
hole
www.allaboutbirds.org
No tail No grasses
streamers
261/15/2019
Uh-oh!
• Dirty under nests
• Try netting eaves that are
inappropriate for nesting and adding
wooden ledges where nesting is
desired
• https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-
birdhouses/birds/barn-swallow/
Cavity
nest/nest
box
swallows
271/15/2019
Tree Swallow
www.allaboutbirds.org
Tree Swallow
Blue top
White belly
www.allaboutbirds.org
281/15/2019
Violet-green Swallow
www.allaboutbirds.org
Violet-green Swallow
Green to
purple top
White belly
www.allaboutbirds.org
291/15/2019
Tree vs. Violet-green Swallow
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Tree vs. Violet-green Swallow
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
301/15/2019
Tree vs. Violet-green Swallow
Blue extends
White eyebrow
below eye
Mostly blue Green to
purple gradient
White extends
further up rump
Both white
belly
Both white
belly
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Bluebirds
www.allaboutbirds.org
311/15/2019
Western Bluebird
www.allaboutbirds.org
Western Bluebird
www.allaboutbirds.org
Adult male
Juvenile
321/15/2019
Western Bluebird Great for
pest
control!
Blue wings, Blue tints
tail, head,
and throat
Pale orange
wash
Rust-orange
vest
www.allaboutbirds.org
Adult male
Juvenile
Eastern Bluebird
www.allaboutbirds.org
331/15/2019
Eastern Bluebird
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Adult male Juvenile
Eastern Bluebird
Blue wings, Pale orange
Blue/gray wings
tail, head, wash
and cap
and throat
Rust-orange
breast, sides,
and throat
White belly
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Adult male Juvenile
341/15/2019
Western vs. Eastern Bluebird
Western vs. Eastern Bluebird
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Western male Eastern male
351/15/2019
Western vs. Eastern Bluebird
Rufous Rufous
extends doesn’t
further back extend as far
Blue throat Rust-orange
throat
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Western male Eastern male
Attracting Bluebirds
• Great at insect control
• https://articles.extension.org/pages/7
4434/western-bluebird-sialia-
mexicana-identification-diet-and-
management-for-organic-farmers
• Provide nest boxes near crops
• https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-
about-birdhouses/birds/western-
bluebird/ www.allaboutbirds.org
361/15/2019
Finches
www.allaboutbirds.org
House Finch
www.allaboutbirds.org
371/15/2019
House Finch
www.allaboutbirds.org
House Finch
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Adult male Female/immature
381/15/2019
House Finch
Rosy red face Thick, seed
and upper eating bill Thick, seed
breast eating bill
Blurry streaks
down belly
Brown Notched tail
streaking
Notched tail www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Adult male Female/immature
Purple Finch
www.allaboutbirds.org
391/15/2019
Purple Finch
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Adult male Female/immature
Purple Finch Thick, seed
Whitish
Raspberry eating bill
eyebrow and Thick, seed
head, breast, cheek stripe eating bill
and back
Coarsely
streaked
underside
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Adult male Female/immature
401/15/2019
House vs. Purple Finch
Brown-gray
Raspberry
back
back
Raspberry
Brown streaking
streaking
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Adult male Adult male
American Goldfinch
www.allaboutbirds.org
411/15/2019
American Goldfinch
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Breeding season male Breeding season female
American Goldfinch
Black cap Dull olive cap
Yellow back,
neck, breast,
and belly Olive back
Seed eating
beak
White wingbar and
wing markings
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Breeding season male Breeding season female
421/15/2019
Lesser Goldfinch
www.allaboutbirds.org
Lesser Goldfinch
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Western “green backed” Eastern front and Central Female
American “black backed”
431/15/2019
Lesser Goldfinch
Black cap,
Black cap and neck, and
back back Olive back
and crown
Gray cheek
White wing White wing
patch spot
Seed eating
Seed eating
bill
bill
Yellow
underparts
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Dull yellow
Western “green backed” Eastern front and Central Female underparts
American “black backed”
American vs. Lesser Goldfinch
441/15/2019
American vs. Lesser Goldfinch
Yellow back, Black neck and back
and neck
Harsher and
f faster song
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
American goldfinch male Lesser Goldfinch Male
North American
Sparrows (“Little
brown jobs”)
451/15/2019
Song Sparrow
www.allaboutbirds.org
Song Sparrow Song often
best cue
Russet stripes
on crown and
eye
Bill thinner
than finches
Breast spot
Look for me on ground
or in brush White belly
www.allaboutbirds.org
Sound file: Randolph S. Little/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab
of Ornithology (ML222034)
461/15/2019
White-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White crown
and eyebrows
White breast
471/15/2019
Savannah Sparrow
www.allaboutbirds.org
Savannah Sparrow
Yellow eye
stripe
Streaked
breast
White belly
www.allaboutbirds.org
Sound file: Leonard J. Peyton/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab
of Ornithology (ML49968)
481/15/2019
Dark-eyed Junco
www.allaboutbirds.org
Dark-eyed Junco
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Slate-colored Oregon Juvenile Oregon
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Red-backed Pink-sided
491/15/2019
Dark-eyed Junco
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Slate-colored Oregon Juvenile Oregon
All have white
outer-tail
feathers
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Red-backed Pink-sided
Eastern Towhee
www.allaboutbirds.org
501/15/2019
Eastern Towhee
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female/immature
Eastern Towhee Brown-gray
Black head, Reddish eyes head, neck,
neck, back, back, and
and throat throat
Seed eating
bill
White tail corners Rufous sides
White belly
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female/immature
511/15/2019
Spotted Towhee
www.allaboutbirds.org
Spotted Towhee
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female/immature
521/15/2019
Spotted Towhee
White wing
spots White wing
spots
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female/immature
Sparrows
• Eat insects, transplants, and fruits
• May help control pest insects
• Will likely eat your transplants
• Likes raspberries and other fruits
• May help control weeds
• Brushy cover attracts them
• Plant and retain brush near crops to
attract sparrows
• Weedy fields attract more sparrows
• Some nest in grasses
• Leave some grassland or pasture to
promote Savannah and Grasshopper
Sparrows
531/15/2019
Blackbirds
www.allaboutbirds.org
Red-winged blackbird
www.allaboutbirds.org
541/15/2019
Red-winged blackbird
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female
Red-winged blackbird Yellowish face Stripes on
wash face
Brown
streaking
Slender bill
Red epaulet
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female
551/15/2019
Brown-headed Cowbird
www.allaboutbirds.org
Brown-headed cowbird
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female Juvenile
561/15/2019
Brown-headed cowbird
Plain brown
Plain brown with scaly
Brown head
with few appearance
markings
Black body
Thick beaks
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female Juvenile
Common Grackle
www.allaboutbirds.org
571/15/2019
Common Grackle
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female
Common Grackle
Yellow eye
Iridescent head
Less glossy
Bronze body
Long tail
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Large blackbird
581/15/2019
Brewer’s Blackbird
Brewer’s Blackbird
Yellow eye
Purplish head Brown eye
sheen
Plain brown
Shorter tail
Maleblackbird
Mid-sized Female
591/15/2019
Blackbirds
• Eat insects and grain
• Can help with insect pest control
• Can damage crops
• Often cause large livestock feed
losses
• Often found around livestock
• Attract by putting out bird
feeders, and promote nesting by
leaving or creating wetlands
Introduced
species
601/15/2019
European Starling
www.allaboutbirds.org
European Starling
www.allaboutbirds.org
Breeding plumage Non-breeding plumage
611/15/2019
European Starling
Yellow bill
Spotted in
winter
Stocky bird
with short
tail
Pink legs
www.allaboutbirds.org
Breeding plumage Non-breeding plumage
Voices and
Starlings vs. Native Blackbirds songs differ
Yellow bill Black bill
Less stocky
with longer
Stocky bird
tails
with short
tail Black legs
Pink legs
www.allaboutbirds.org
Breeding plumage
621/15/2019
House Sparrow
House Sparrow
www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female
631/15/2019
Simple call
House Sparrow vocalizations
Tan eye
Gray cap stripe
Rufous
nape and
back Striped
back
Thick, seed
Black bib eating bill
Buffy
White
belly
belly
www.allaboutbirds.org
Male Female
House Sparrow vs. Native Sparrows
Simple call Complex
vocalizations songs
Urban specialist Wide range of habitats
Gregarious Pairs in summer
Thick, seed Thinner bills
eating bill
Often
Buffy streaked belly
belly
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
641/15/2019
Rock Pigeon
www.allaboutbirds.org
Rock Pigeon
Red eye
Iridescent
green nape
Stocky,
large dove
www.allaboutbirds.org
651/15/2019
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Black collar
Stocky,
large dove
661/15/2019
Managing Invasive Species
• Natives protected by Migratory
Bird Treaty Act
• Invasives not protected
• Can use lethal control
• Monitoring nest boxes and
removing invasives often
recommended
• Prevent nesting on structures
with netting
Native Doves
www.allaboutbirds.org
671/15/2019
Mourning Dove
Mourning vs. Eurasian Collared Dove
No collar
Black collar
Wing spots Stocky,
large dove
Pointed tail
Flat tail
Sound file: Randolph S. Little/Macaulay Library Sound file: Arnoud B van den Berg/Macaulay Library
at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML107039) at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML26380)
681/15/2019
Corvids
www.allaboutbirds.org
Blue Jay
www.allaboutbirds.org
691/15/2019
Blue Jay
Blue crest
White Black
belly necklace
www.allaboutbirds.org
Steller’s (“Blue”) Jay
www.allaboutbirds.org
701/15/2019
Steller’s (“Blue”) Jay
Black
crest
Black
throat
and neck
Blue belly
and wings
www.allaboutbirds.org
American Crow vs. Common Raven
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
711/15/2019
American Crow vs. Common Raven
American Crow vs. Common Raven
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Sound file: Bob McGuire/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Sound file: William W. H. Gunn/Macaulay Library at the Cornell
Ornithology (ML229089) Lab of Ornithology (ML62386)
721/15/2019
American Crow vs. Common Raven
Managing Corvids
• Good luck!
• Attract with tray feeders or
leave out peanuts or pet food
• Can encourage nesting with
hedges or by leaving forest
www.allaboutbirds.org
731/15/2019
Raptors
www.allaboutbirds.org
Red-tailed Hawk
www.allaboutbirds.org
741/15/2019
Red-tailed Hawk Dark wing
tips
Red tail
Brown
belly Pale wing
band
Dark
above
www.allaboutbirds.org
Northern Harrier
www.allaboutbirds.org
751/15/2019
Northern Harrier
Often flies
with V shaped
wings
Owl-like
White tail face
Owl-like
stripe face
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Adult male Adult female Immature
* Find me in wetlands and grasslands eating rodents, including in your pastures
Promoting Harriers
761/15/2019
Barn Owl
www.allaboutbirds.org
Barn Owl
White, heart-
shaped face
Cinnamon
body
Spotted, white
chest
www.allaboutbirds.org
771/15/2019
Promoting Barn Owls
American Kestrel
www.allaboutbirds.org
781/15/2019
American Kestrel
Handlebar Gray crown
Handlebar
mustache mustache
Rusty above Rusty all
over
Slate-blue
wings Small,
parrot like
bill
Watch for
tail bob
www.allaboutbirds.org www.allaboutbirds.org
Male
Small falcon Female
Promoting Kestrels
• Beneficial for bird and rodent
control
• Install nest boxes near crops you’d
like protected
• Will be most effective when chicks
are in nest
• https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-
about-birdhouses/birds/american-
kestrel/
April Thatcher
791/15/2019
Summary
• Be patient!
• The US has over 400 breeding birds
• You can find over 700 birds in North
America
• Learn general size and shape,
plumage patterns, behaviors,
vocalizations, and common habitats
• Birds play complex ecological roles
and can both help and hurt the farm www.allaboutbirds.org
Additional Resources
• Bird identification
• Field guides (I like Sibley)
• Merlin Bird ID App, eBird App, or https://www.ebird.org
• https://www.allaboutbirds.org/
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology Bird Academy
https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/course-list/
• Bird song identification
• Larkwire or other song learning app
• Recordings available in eBird App, https://allaboutbirds.org,
and https://www.macaulaylibrary.org/
• Habitat management
• https://nestwatch.org/
• http://content.yardmap.org/
801/15/2019
Additional Resources
• eOrganic
• Learn about how to use Merlin and Habitat Network at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPxuQWmOZ1Q
• Articles on promoting beneficials and identifying nests
• http://articles.extension.org/pages/74436/identification-diet-and-management-of-
chickadees-and-warblers-common-on-organic-farms
• http://articles.extension.org/pages/74435/identification-diet-and-management-of-
swallows-and-swifts-common-on-organic-farms
• http://articles.extension.org/pages/74434/western-bluebird-sialia-mexicana-
identification-diet-and-management-for-organic-farmers
• http://articles.extension.org/pages/74686/identifying-bird-nests-on-farm-structures
Questions?
www.allaboutbirds.org
811/15/2019
• Find all upcoming and archived webinars at
http://articles.extension.org/pages/25242 and on the eOrganic YouTube
channel. This recording will be available within 1-2 weeks.
• Have an organic farming question? Use the eXtension Ask an Expert service
at https://ask.extension.org/groups/1668
• Please send your feedback! We will email you a survey about this webinar
later today.
• Thank you for coming!
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